On 3 January 2024, Brian Kelly has expressed optimism about the cryptocurrency market entering a prolonged bull phase. In a recent interview on CNBC’s Fast Money, Kelly highlighted several factors that contribute to his bullish stance.
Kelly is a well-known figure in the cryptocurrency and financial investment community. He is the founder and CEO of BKCM LLC, a digital assets investment firm. Kelly is recognized for his expertise in cryptocurrencies, blockchain technology, and financial markets. He frequently shares his insights on these subjects through media appearances, particularly on CNBC, where he contributes to programs like “Fast Money.”
Kelly drew parallels between the stock and crypto markets, emphasizing the significance of market breadth. Just as a healthy bull market in stocks is often characterized by the performance of mid and small-cap stocks, a similar trend is being observed in the cryptocurrency sector. He pointed out the growing interest in cryptocurrencies like Polkadot, Cosmos (Atom), and Solana. He says this diversification beyond the major players like Bitcoin and Ethereum suggests a more robust and inclusive market growth:
“When we talk about stocks, we talk about the breadth of the market and the breadth widening out to the mid and the small caps, and that’s usually the sign of a healthy bull market. We’re seeing that in crypto right now. So you are rightly bringing up names like Polkadot or Cosmos (Atom) or even Solana…
“You’re starting to see the rally broaden out. And most importantly, you’re actually seeing from some of these cryptocurrencies actual things being built on them.”
Importantly, Kelly noted the tangible developments occurring within the cryptocurrency ecosystem. The rise in decentralized exchanges and the increasing activities in decentralized finance (DeFi), like lending and the growth of total value locked, are indicative of a maturing market with solid fundamentals, he claims. These developments, according to Kelly, are not just surface-level rallies but are backed by substantial technological and financial advancements.
Regarding the potential impact of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) approving spot Bitcoin (BTC) exchange-traded funds (ETFs), Kelly posited that it might initially trigger a sell-off event, popularly termed as “sell-the-news.” However, he remains optimistic about Bitcoin’s recovery and subsequent rally. Kelly believes that traditional finance sectors will increasingly adopt Bitcoin through ETFs, leading to a broader investor base.
He anticipates that even a modest allocation of 1%-5% in investment portfolios like IRAs or private wealth managers would significantly boost Bitcoin’s demand over the year:
“I do think a lot of the speculative fever around the ETF is probably reaching a crescendo this week. So yeah, could we get a sell-off? Sure. But I think that would be a dip to buy, because remember, there are still a lot of people that have not been able to buy Bitcoin for their portfolio. So even a 1%-to-2%, to even 5% allocation in IRAs or for private wealth managers, they’re going to be buying the ETF over the year.”
